Act of Union: Bicentenary

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 16 March (WA 230-1) and 5 April, (WA 134) whether it is now their policy to take note of the views of the Republic of Ireland's government in issues that reflect the history and culture of the whole of the United Kingdom; and whether they consider that their views in such matters have been sufficiently taken into account by the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is the long established practice of the Government to exchange views with all its international partners on a wide range of issues on the basis of mutual understanding.

Act of Union: Bicentenary

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will be represented at the events in the Republic of Ireland designed to mark the bicentenary in 2001 of the creation of the United Kingdom; and, if so, by whom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Ambassador in Dublin plans to attend a British-Irish Association seminar on "The Act of Union: 200 years on" which will take place in Dublin in May 2000. We are not aware of any other relevant events taking place in Ireland.

Zimbabwe

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are monitoring the sale and distribution of publicly-owned assets in Zimbabwe before the currently postponed elections take place.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We monitor regularly all significant economic developments in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have offered any assistance to the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe; and at which meetings, on which dates and with whom present any possible assistance was discussed.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe has not asked us for any assistance. The Foreign Secretary met the MDC President, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, and the Minister of State had a telephone conversation with him on 14 April.

Zimbabwe

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the elections in Zimbabwe, under the ministerial direction of Mr Dubengwa, are held by mid-June.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have urged the Government of Zimbabwe to create the conditions for the holding of free and fair elections, within the constitutional timescale. We have also agreed with our EU partners that we would be willing to support and monitor the elections. The Commonwealth Secretary-General has made clear that he is prepared to send Commonwealth observers if invited by the Government of Zimbabwe and supported by the parties contesting the election.

Danube Bridges: Clearance

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in view of the international interest in navigation along the whole length of the Danube, they will seek to mobilise funds for the removal of the debris of the three bridges that were destroyed at Novi Sad; and what they estimate the cost of such work to be.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK supports the proposed financing by the European Commission of the Danube Commission's project to clear the Danube at Novi Sad. The European Commission is planning to fund 85 per cent of the estimated total of 24.1 million euro needed to carry out the clearance work.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Municipal Elections

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are involved in monitoring the municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if so whether they satisfy standard tests of freedom and fairness.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Kingdom has sent 74 polling supervisors, nine field election advisers, two counting supervisors and two international long-term supervisors to participate in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)--administered municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 April.
	Ambassador Barry, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated on 9 April that the Mission was satisfied that overall the elections were "free and fair".

Criminal Justice: Royal Commission's Recommendations

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action has been taken to implement Recommendations 222 and 223 of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (Cm. 2263, 1993).

Lord Bach: In its Final Response in 1996 to the Report of the Royal Commission, the previous government said that these recommendations "remain under consideration, although the Government is concerned that they would depart fundamentally from the principle that a jury should as far as possible be chosen at random from a cross-section of the population as a whole". In the light of the noble Lord's interest, we have looked at this issue again and have decided that the Government will give active consideration to these recommendations. A further statement will be made in due course.

Freedom of Information Bill: Public Bodies

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which public bodies (a) they intend to designate by order under Clause 4 of the Freedom of Information Bill; (b) are a publicly-owned company as defined in Clause 5 of that Bill; and (c) are public bodies neither in (a) nor (b) above nor in Schedule 1 to the Bill.

Lord Bach: Clause 4 of the Freedom of Information Bill requires my right honourable friend the Home Secretary to consult every person to whom an order relates or persons appearing to him to represent such persons. We have still to consult formally as required under Clause 4 and, therefore, it is not possible to provide a list of bodies which will be designated under this part of the Bill. Our enquiries to date have, however, identified a number of bodies which we believe are likely to meet the criteria set out in respect of bodies designated under Clause 4. These are set out in the following list. Some of the bodies are listed in their own right and others by means of a generic description. The list does not represent a final list of bodies which may be designated as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Bill.
	Clause 5 of the Bill provides that a company is publicly-owned for the purposes of the Bill if it is wholly owned by the Crown, or it is wholly owned by any public authority listed in Schedule 1 to the Bill other than (i) a government department, or (ii) any authority which is listed only in relation to particular information. Subsections (2) and (3) clarify the meaning to be given to "wholly owned by the Crown" and "wholly owned by a public authority" for these purposes and set out other definitions. The effect of Clause 5 is that a company which meets the criteria is caught by the freedom of information regime. Because we are using a generic definition we have not compiled a separate list of bodies which may be covered by Clause 5.
	Clauses 2 to 6 of the Freedom of Information Bill provide for coverage of all public bodies, either by means of a generic description of by specific inclusion in a list or an order. Bodies which might qualify for inclusion in the list at Schedule 1 have, however, not been so listed where we are satisfied that the body will have ceased to exist when the Bill comes into force, have no separate identity from a parent organisation, or are not yet established. In the latter case, the body will be brought within scope of the legislation by order.
	There are two exceptions to the principle that all public bodies are to be covered by the Bill. Clause 21(3) provides that any information provided by, or relating to, specified bodies is exempt. The specified bodies are the Security Services, the Secret Intelligence Service, the Government Communications Headquarters, the Special Forces (Special Air Service and Special Boat Service) and the National Criminal Intelligence Service. This has the effect of excluding those bodies from the scope of the Bill. In addition, certain Scottish bodies are exempt from the order-making powers in the Bill. These bodies are the Scottish Parliament, any part of the Scottish Administration, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body or any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998. Legislation in respect of those bodies is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
	Preliminary List of Bodies Considered for Designation Under Clause 4 of the Freedom of Information Bill
	The National Institute for Agricultural Botany
	Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
	Rail Users' Consultative Committees
	Persons or bodies authorised by the Legal Services Commission under section 4(8) or 12(4) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 to accredit persons or bodies providing services of the descriptions set out in section 4(2) of the Access to Justice Act 1999, or providing services which may be funded by the commission as part of the Criminal Defence Service.
	Bodies responsible for regulating the provision of legal services (including the Law Society, the Bar Council, the Institute of Legal Executives).
	Bodies receiving grant-in-aid or grant from the Lord Chancellor for marriage and relationship support services. Bodies receiving grant-in-aid or grant from the Lord Chancellor providing advice and support to parents of abducted children.
	Persons or bodies accredited by the Lord Chancellor to carry out paternity testing.
	Bodies appointed under section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 as places of deposit for public records insofar as their internal administrative records relating to those public records are concerned.
	Ofwat Customer Service Committees
	Ofwat National Consumer Council
	Motability
	General Lighthouse Authorities
	Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
	Housing Organisations Mobility and Exchange Services.
	National Society for Clean Air
	Public functions carried out by contractors appointed by the Driving Standards Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State to deliver the statutory theory tests for learner drivers. Public functions of any body authorised by the Driving Standards Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State to conduct all or part of the statutory driving tests for learner drivers.
	Public functions of any body appointed by the Driving Standards Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State to conduct the statutory theory tests for persons seeking to join the register of approved driving instructors. Public functions of any body authorised by the Driving Standards Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State to provide approved training courses for riders of mopeds and motor bicycles.
	Private bodies and individuals to which the Maritime and Coastguard Agency delegates public functions in relation to surveys of UK ships and training and certification of seafarers.
	Public functions carried out by contractors under the Local Authorities (Contracting out of Tax Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 1996 (SI 1996 1880).
	Public functions carried out by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission under the Audit Commission Act 1998.
	The Energy Saving Trust Ltd. in respect of the public functions it carries out on behalf of DETR.
	Public functions of the Institution of Civil Engineers
	Public functions of the Civic Trust
	Public functions of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
	Geffrye Museum
	Horniman Museum
	Museum of Science And Industry In Manchester
	Cultural Strategy Group for London
	Gaelic Broadcasting Committee
	Financial Services Authority
	Electricity Consumers' Committees
	National Consumers' Consultative Committee
	Council for Registered Gas Installers (Corgi)
	National Proficiency Test Council
	Silsoe Research Institute
	United Kingdom Accreditation Service
	British Standards Institute
	Commonwealth War Graves Commission
	Fleet Air Arm Museum
	Royal British Legion
	Royal Marines Museum
	Royal Naval Museum
	Royal Naval Submarine Museum
	Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association--Forces Help.
	Navy, Army, Air Force Institute
	Regular Forces Employment Association
	Services Sound and Vision Corporation
	Royal Hospital Chelsea
	Atomic Weapons Establishment
	Commonwealth Institute
	Commissioner for Irish Lights
	Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
	The Boards established under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960.
	General Optical Council
	Royal Medical Colleges
	Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in respect of its statutory functions, and those of any of its committees or officers (these are currently to be found in the Pharmacy Act 1954 and the Medicines Act 1968), and any non-statutory public functions relating to the regulation of the pharmacy profession.
	Association of Child Psychotherapists
	British Psychological Society
	Institute of Food and Science Technology.
	Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice.
	Local Authority co-ordinating body on food and training standards.
	Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene
	Royal Society for Health
	Royal Society of Medicine
	Society for Food Hygiene Technology
	Specialist Training Authority for the Royal Medical Colleges.
	The Institute of Biology
	The Psychological Society
	Providers of care under the Registered Homes Act 1984 including hospices, secure mental health units and private hospitals receiving NHS patients for treatment.
	Voluntary adoption agencies registered on behalf of the Secretary of State to make arangements for adoptions.
	Voluntary organisations and charities operating under the terms of service or other forms of financial agreements with the local authorities in respect of the discharge of their social services functions.
	Bodies who are contracted by the Secretary of State, or who are sub-contracted by the contractor, to provide or run a prison or part of a prison in accordance with section 84 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (as substituted by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994), or to provide prisoner escort and custody services under section 80 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (as amended by section 93 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994).
	Bodies delivering education services to prisons and prisoners under contract.
	Bodies providing library services to prisons under contract.
	Bodies participating in the running of prison industries under contract or in partnership with the prison service and bodies participating in the provision of work for prisoners in a joint venture scheme with the Prison Service British Board of Film Classification.
	Cable and Wireless
	Documents Evidence Limited
	Forensic Alliance (including AEA Technology, Cellmark Diagnostics and Forensic Access) (provider of forensic science service for public authorities under contract).
	Immigration Advisory Service
	Index of Exempted Dogs
	The Jockey Club
	The National Greyhound Racing Club
	Port of Tilbury London Ltd in respect of powers to appoint constables by virtue of paragraph 12 of Schedule 4 of the Port of Tilbury Transfer Scheme 1991.
	Refugee Legal Centre
	Scientifics (provider of forensic science service for public authorities under contract).
	Support After Murder and Manslaughter
	Victim Support
	Video Appeals Committee
	Basic Skills Agency
	British Academy
	Capita Business Services Ltd (in respect of contract services).
	Careers Services
	Centre for Information on Language, Teaching and Research.
	Further Education Development Agency
	GS Medical Advisers (in respect of contract services).
	Higher Education Statistics Agency
	National Institute for Adult Continuing Education
	Prudential Assurance Company Ltd (in respect of contract services).
	Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
	Technology Colleges Trust
	Tourism Quality Services Ltd
	Training and Enterprise Councils
	Training Standards Council (in respect of contract services).
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
	Advisory Body on Fair Trading in Telecommunications.
	Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People.
	Communications for Business
	Advertising Standards Authority
	Hearing Aid Council
	Severn River Crossings Ltd
	UK Highways (A55) Ltd
	Road Safety Council of Wales
	Adas Consulting Ltd
	Wales Youth Agency
	Foods Standards Agency (Welsh Executive)
	Advisory Committee for Wales
	Wales Council for Voluntary Action
	University for Industry
	The Financial Reporting Council
	The Accounting Standards Board
	The Financial Reporting Review Panel Ltd
	Association of Certified Chartered Accountants 1 2 3
	Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales 1 , 2
	Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland 1 , 2 3
	Association of Authorised Public Accountants 1
	Association of International Accountants 2
	The Insolvency Practitioners Association 3
	The Law Society of Scotland 3
	Jfmg Ltd (Joint Frequency Management Group) 4
	Assay Offices of United Kingdom 5 Notes 1 In respect of functions performed under s. 30 and Sch. 11 to the Companies Act 1989 for the supervision of auditors in Great Britain. 2 In respect of functions performed as a body declared under s. 32 and Sch. 12 to the Companies Act 1989 as offering a recognised qualification. 3 In respect of its functions as a recognised professional body for the purposes of s. 391 to the Insolvency Act 1986. 4 In respect of functions performed under s. 1 to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. 5 In respect of functions performed under the Hallmarking Act 1973.

Freedom of Information Bill

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, when under the Freedom of Information Bill a public authority replies to an applicant on a matter where the duty to confirm or deny does not arise, they anticipate that the public authority will in every case state that the duty to confirm or deny does not arise (whether or not there is any undisclosed information); and, if so, what form of words they expect to be used.

Lord Bach: Under Clause 15 of the Bill, a public authority which is relying on a claim that the duty to confirm or deny does not arise must give the applicant a notice that states that fact, specify the exemption in question and state why the exemption applies.
	We do not anticipate prescribing a standard form of words that authorities should use in those circumstances--it must be a matter for each individual authority.

Freedom of Information Bill

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, under the Freedom of Information Bill, a person who receives information from a public authority under the terms of the Bill may freely publish that information on the Internet; and, if not, why not, and what restrictions apply.

Lord Bach: Whether disclosed information may be published on the Internet or not depends on whether the information is subject to copyright under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Anyone wishing to publish disclosed information which is copyright must first seek and obtain the permission of the copyright holder. The provisions in the Freedom of Information Bill will not disturb this.
	In terms of copyright, the information that may be disclosed under the proposed freedom of information regime will fall into three categories.
	Some information held by public authorities will be Crown copyright. This is defined as those works made by Her Majesty or by an officer or servant of the Crown in the course of his duties. The Government's White Paper on The Future Management of Crown Copyright, published on 26 March 1999, stated that:
	"the future management of Crown copyright will emphasise improved and streamlined access to ensure that government information is used and developed to best advantage";
	and that,
	"the general principles which govern the operation of Crown copyright should be extended, where possible, to non-Crown governmental bodies and to local government".
	Some information held by public authorities may be subject to the copyright of a third party. For example, government departments and agencies commission a wide range of works by non-Crown individuals and organisations. Unless specific provision is made in the commissioning contract for the copyright in such commissioned works to be assigned or transferred to the Crown, the copyright will continue to rest with the Author.
	Finally, there will be information which is not subject to copyright. There would be no restriction on the copying of such information which could also be put on the Internet.

Freedom of Information Bill

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, under Clause 19 of the Freedom of Information Bill, information is "reasonably accessible to the applicant" if it is not available in electronic form and the applicant requires information in that form.

Lord Bach: Clause 19 of the Freedom of Information Bill exempts information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means. When assessing whether the information is "reasonably accessible" to the applicant, the Information Commissioner will of course take into account the form in which it is available.
	Where information is judged to be reasonably accessible by other means, the applicant will not have a right to require the information to be communicated to him in a different form other than the form in which it is already available. Therefore, if the information is reasonably accessible to the applicant in manual form, the applicant will not have the right to require it to be communicated to him electronically. However, an authority may always convert the information into the form requested by the applicant at its discretion.
	If the information is not reasonably accessible to the applicant, then Clause 19 will not apply, in which case the applicant is entitled to express a preference for the form in which the information is to be communicated to him, and, under Clause 10 of the Bill, the authority shall so far as is practicable give effect to that preference.

Identity Cards

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which countries of the European Union have a system of national identity cards, and in which of them (a) the system is mandatory and (b) the carrying of identity cards is mandatory; and from which of these countries such identity cards are an acceptable travel document for entry into the United Kingdom.

Lord Bach: The following countries have identity cards, although they do not all use the same system for them: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland and the Netherlands. To the best of our knowledge identity cards are compulsory in the first six of these countries; and must be carried in the first five. The valid identity card of any European Union or European Economic Area country may be accepted as a travel document for entry into the United Kingdom.

Illegal Immigrants: Country of Origin

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether illegal immigrants who refuse to disclose their country of origin can claim, and be granted, political asylum; and, if not, whether it is possible for them to be deported.

Lord Bach: The United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Under the Convention, the United Kingdom has an obligation to consider all applications for asylum made in the United Kingdom or at its ports. The Secretary of State will, therefore, consider all claims for political asylum made in this country.
	Where an applicant refuses to disclose his nationality, this will be taken into consideration when the claim is considered. However, failure to disclose his nationality may affect the assessment of the applicant's credibility and ultimately the overall decision whether or not to grant asylum.
	Under the Immigration Act 1971, an illegal entrant may be removed to the country of which he is a citizen or national or to any country or territory to which there is reason to believe he will be admitted. Provided the latter condition is satisfied, it is still possible to remove someone who is unwilling to disclose his country of origin.

Kevin Chambers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will enquire into the circumstances of the release from prison of Kevin Chambers, who on 3 April was sentenced to life imprisonment for a rape committed in Ipswich within 18 hours of being released from serving four years' imprisonment for an earlier conviction for rape; and why the Suffolk Police were not informed that he was accommodated at public expense in the Chequers Hotel in Ipswich on his release from the earlier custodial sentence.

Lord Bach: This case was the subject of a serious incident report by Essex Probation Service in line with the requirements of Probation Circular 71/1998. The Home Office has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation to investigate, and my right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be receiving an urgent report on this incident, which will recommend any action that should be taken.

Sex Offenders: Procedures on Release

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, when a convicted sex offender is released from prison, it is standard practice to alert the police force covering the area in which it is expected that the offender will reside; and, if not, why not.

Lord Bach: Yes. A mandatory instruction was issued to prisons in August 1997 requiring them to inform the relevant police force when sex offenders who are subject to the Sex Offenders Act 1997 are released. There is also a statutory requirement on those sex offenders themselves to notify the police of their address and other details on release from prison.
	It is not standard practice to alert the police of the release of other sex offenders.

Official Documents: Classification

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are in place to prevent the excessive classification of official documents as not appropriate for public disclosure.(HL2086)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bach: Clear guidance is available on the use of protective markings for the administrative classification of official documents. However, such classifications are not a factor which will be taken into account when considering disclosure of information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill.

Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Recommendations: Implementation

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many and which of the 70 recommendations made by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry have been implemented.(HL2085)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bach: Forty-four recommendations have now been fully implemented, and work is in progress to implement the remaining 26 in line with my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's Action Plan. Further information is available in Stephen Lawrence Inquiry--Home Secretary's Action Plan: First Annual Report on Progress, published in March 2000, a copy of which is in the Library.

Magistrates' Courts: Civil Proceedings

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the proposed rules and practice directions for civil proceedings in magistrates' courts in relation to the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Material for civil proceedings in the magistrates' courts is required only under Section 2 of the Human Rights Act. As indicated in paragraph 2 of the consultation paper, Human Rights Act 1998: Rules, published on 10 March 2000 by my department, this will be similar to the material produced for the civil and family courts generally under Section 2. It is anticipated that the final rules and practice directions for all civil and family proceedings will be published by the end of July 2000.

Asylum Appeals: Disposal Rate

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the statement attributed to Mr Keith Best, Chief Executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, by The Times in its annexe of 11 April, that when the Human Rights Act 1998 is brought fully into force on 2 October, the rate of hearing asylum appeals by adjudicators will decline to an average of one a day because of all the time needed to go through the evidence.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The impact of the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights was taken into account by the Immigration Appellate Authority in drawing up its Business Plan for the year 2000-2001. The plan shows a disposal rate for asylum appeals by adjudicators of 1.5 per day for the months of October and November 2000. The disposal rate is then increased to 2 per day from December 2000 onwards.

River Thames: Strategic Planning Guidance

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on development along the Thames, especially in relation to the appropriate height of buildings

Lord Whitty: Strategic Planning Guidance for the River Thames (RPG3b/9b) was issued in February 1997. The guidance includes a section on the built environment alongside the River Thames. It states that development should establish and reflect a relationship with the river, it should take full account of its local context, including its relationship with buildings and structures of particular sensitivity. The scale, mass, height, silhouette, skyline, layout, material and colour of buildings adjacent to and in the vicinity of the river should all be given close attention and should be appropriate to the local context. Because of the emphasis on the context of buildings and the varied character of the river, there is no rigid prescription about the height of buildings.
	In November 1999, Ministers broadly endorsed advice produced by the London Planning Advisory Committee on high buildings and strategic views. The advice re-states the guidance in RPG3b/9b that London boroughs should identify the extent of the Thames policy area in their development plans and carry out an appraisal of their stretch of the river. This appraisal should form the basis of the designation of any areas appropriate for high buildings.

Post Offices: Benefit Payments

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether benefit books and giro cheques for social security beneficiaries will continue to be made available for presentation at post offices for those who require them after 2003.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: From 2003 we intend to move from the traditional paper-based methods of benefit payment to a more secure and efficient method of paying benefits through automated credit transfer (ACT). The move to ACT will begin in 2003 and be completed in 2005. During this period we will phase out girocheques and order books as benefit recipients are migrated to payment by ACT.
	However, those benefit recipients who wish to collect their cash at post offices will continue to be able to do so, both before and after the move to ACT.
	We also recognise that there will be some people whom we will be unable to pay by ACT. For these, we are considering what alternative simple electronic money transmission system, which could also be accessed at post offices, may be commercially available.

Child Support Act 1991: Reduced Benefit Directions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information they hold on the outcomes of Reduced Benefit Directions under the Child Support Act 1991; and, in particular, when parents with care ultimately chose to co-operate, what was the average length of time they were subject to a reduced benefit direction before deciding to do so.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is not available in the form requested. Such information about the duration of reduced benefit directions as is available is in the table.
	
		Numbers of Quarters that Parents with Care on Income Support have a Reduced Benefit Direction (RBD)
		
			 No. of Quarterly Scans Range (No. of Quarters) No. of PWCs on IS  with an RBD (grossed) 
			 1 0-2 37,000 
			 2 1-3 15,000 
			 3 2-4 5,000 
			 4 3-5 6,000 
			 5 4-6 4,000 
			 6 5-7 13,000 
			 7-11 6-12 1,000 
			 Total81,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	(1) Average (mean) number of quarters RBD imposed is 2.6 (34 weeks).
	(2) Figures based on 5 per cent scan of Income Support Computer System at quarterly intervals February, May, August, November from April 1993 to 30 November 1999.
	(3) Range refers to the duration that the RBD could have been imposed, given that the scan does not identify the exact date it was imposed and lifted.
	(4) Number of cases where RBD is lifted may not necessarily be because parents with care co-operate. For example, they may go off benefit. The scan does not identify the reason the RBD is lifted.

Child Support Act 1991: Reduced Benefit Directions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the incidence among parents with care, who have been subject to a reduced benefit direction, of (a) theft; (b) prostitution; (c) serious illness; and (d) disappearance from Government records, and how these figures compare with those for the adult population as a whole; and
	What proportion of parents with care who have been subject to a reduced benefit direction, and have subsequently agreed to co-operate, have been victims of domestic violence; and how this figure compares with figures for the population as a whole.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information requested is not available. However, reduced benefit directions are only imposed where a parent with care refuses to co-operate with the Child Support Agency without good cause.

Generic Medicines: Pricing Policy

Lord Davies of Coity: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the pricing of generic medicines used in National Health Service primary care.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I am today announcing the Government's proposals for setting maximum prices for generic medicines supplied for use in NHS primary care.
	Generic medicines play an increasingly important part in NHS treatment. In 1998, 63 per cent. of all prescriptions were written generically and savings from generic prescribing have allowed the NHS to invest in other areas of patient care. The Government are committed to building on this success.
	The policy of encouraging generic prescribing depends on a reliable supply of generics which offer value for money. Over the last year the generics market has failed to deliver either. There have been apparent shortages and steep price rises in many generics, which cannot adquately be explained by changes in the cost base for generics manufacture.
	Generic price increases and related turbulence in the generics market are expected to cost the NHS in England some £200 million in 1999-2000. Equivalent pressures have been experienced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Government are determined that the NHS should not face further additional cost pressures arising from generics in 2000-2001. We therefore propose to use powers in the Health Act 1999 to introduce a statutory ceiling, applicable across the UK, on the prices of the main generics. The proposals will not apply to branded medicines sold to the NHS by the research and development-based pharmaceutical industry, the profits of which are regulated voluntarily under the 1999 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS). The statutory ceiling will correspond to prices some 15 months ago, before last year's steep price inflation. It will be reviewed after 15 months. We also propose to require the submission of information by suppliers of generics to underpin the review. The scheme will also include provision for appeals and for penalties in cases of contravention.
	Subject to the outcome of consultation, we propose to lay regulations to underpin the controls around the middle of June.
	The Government have considered the scope for introducing a voluntary scheme for setting maximum prices. It is difficult to see how a meaningful voluntary scheme could be negotiated, given the fragmentation of the generics supply chain, the number of representative bodies involved and the fact that many companies are not represented by any of them. However, if the Government are persuaded, through the consultation exercise, that a meaningful voluntary agreement could satisfactorily be negotiated, then they will seek to do so.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that the principle of fair reimbursement for community pharmacists and dispensing doctors is maintained under the proposed scheme. At the same time, we share the view of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health that aspects of the reimbursement system--in particular the Category D arrangement--are flawed. We believe that Category D has had the effect of encouraging speculation in the supply chain and now propose to abolish it. We intend to discuss this and the wider implications of the price control scheme with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and the General Practice Committee of the BMA (GPC). There will be separate discussions to cover arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The Government's proposals are intended to correct last year's unjustified price increases in the generics market and, in so doing, to protect the position of the NHS. At the same time, the Government remain committed to building on the UK's successful record on generic prescribing. We are therefore determined to ensure that, for the longer term, we have in place arrangements which best serve the Health Service as well as supporting a soundly managed and fully competitive generics market. Identifying such arrangements is the purpose of the Fundamental Review of the generics supply chain, which we have commissioned from Oxford Economic Research Associates (OXERA). We expect OXERA's programme of work to be concluded in the summer.
	A copy of the consultation document setting out the Government's proposals for setting maximum prices has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on the internet at www.doh.gov.uk/gendcon.

"Envoy" and "Czar": Status

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 23 March (WA 37), whether they will list by name all of the individuals for whom they use the expression "Envoy" and "Czar", together with an explanation of the status and level of responsibility that applies in the case of each of those so listed.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The only civil servant with the official title of "Envoy" or "Czar" is Alex Allan, the e-envoy. He has a remit to drive forward e-commerce policy in the United Kingdom, and to represent the UK's e-commerce interests internationally. My answer of 9 March (Official Report, col. WA 157) set out his reporting lines.

Prime Minister's Official Spokesman: Strategic Communications Unit

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 23 March (WA 36), whether, given that the Prime Minister's official spokesman is responsible for the Strategic Communications Unit, he receives any remuneration as a result from the unit's budget.(HL1768)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.

Prime Minister's Official Spokesman: No. 10 Internet Site

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 28 February (WA 45) and 23 March (WA 36), to what extent the responsibility of the Prime Minister's official spokesman for the Strategic Communications Unit confers editorial control over the 10 Downing Street website which is in the hands of three established civil servants.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prime Minister's official spokesman has overall responsibility for the No. 10 internet site. Day-to-day editorial control is in the hands of civil servants in the Strategic Communications Unit.

Strategic Communications Unit

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 25 January (WA 189) and 23 March (WA 36), whether the stated membership of the Strategic Communications Unit as being eight civil servants including two special advisers takes account of the Prime Minister's official spokesman's responsibility for the unit.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. The replies referred to do not include the Prime Minister's official spokesman.

Special Advisers: Commercial Interests

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the external commercial interests, insofar as they may exist, of special advisers employed by the Government are required to be declared; and, if so, to what extent they are subject to appropriate public and parliamentary scrutiny; and
	Whether any of the special advisers working in 10 Downing Street have any external commercial interests which would give rise to either an actual or a perceived conflict of interest with their duties in the formulation of government policy.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Special advisers--like all civil servants--are required under paragraphs 4.3.8 and 4.3.9 of the Civil Service Management Code to declare to their departments any business interests or share holdings which they or members of their immediate family hold, to the extent which they are aware of them, which they would be able to further as a result of their official position. They must not be involved in taking any decisions which could affect the value of their private investments, or the value of those on which they give advice to others, or use information acquired in the course of their work to advance their private financial interests or those of others.

UK Online Initiative

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are confident that their UK Online initiative will not be confused with the Internet service provider of the same name.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government plan to to use UK Online to brand its new personalised portal and to brand its internet access initiatives aimed at individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.
	The Government have made clear that they have no plans to compete with the service provided by the Internet Service provider currently trading as UK Online.

UK Online Initiative

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received any representations about their use of the phrase UK Online as the name for their initiative to offer government services over the Internet; and, if so, what form they have taken.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Grahame Davies, the Group Managing Director of Easynet PLC, wrote to Patricia Hewitt, the e-Minister, on 31 March about the Government's intention to use the phrase UK Online to brand its planned new portal and its Information Age access initiatives.

Central Government Audit

Lord Grenfell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in taking forward the review of central government audit announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 28 February.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I am pleased to announce that Lord Sharman, a former senior partner at KPMG International, has agreed to lead this review. Lord Sharman will report to (as well as being a member of) a steering group chaired by the Chief Secretary. Arrangements are being made to provide him with the appropriate support. The full membership of the steering group will be announced in due course.

Hotel Accommodation: VAT

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their plans to reduce VAT on hotel accommodation in line with the rates charged by other member states of the European Union.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government have no plans to reduce the rate of VAT on hotel accommodation.

ECOFIN Exchange Rate Discussions

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions the Chancellor of the Exchequer has with fellow Ministers in the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers (ECOFIN) about the misalignment of the exchange rate of the pound and the euro; and whether the Chancellor or the Governor of the Bank of England has had exchanges with the President of the European Central Bank on this and related matters.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with other Finance Ministers in the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers (ECOFIN), and a wide range of macroeconomic issues are discussed. Similarly, the Governor of the Bank of England meets regularly with the heads of other major central banks, including the President of the ECB.

Industry: Gross Output Figures 1948-99

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the gross output figures for the United Kingdom in £ million at 1948 prices showing the changes that have occurred in the industries specified below from 1948 to latest available date in 10-year steps: coal mining; steel production; shipbuilding; agriculture; motor vehicle manufacture; and textiles.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply. Letter to Lord Marlesford from the Economic Statistics Director of the Office for National Statistics, Mr John Kidgell, dated 19 April 2000.
	The Director of the Office for National Statistics has been asked to reply to your recent question on gross output figures. I am replying in the Director's absence.
	Gross output figures for agriculture, forestry and fishing are shown below, at 10-yearly intervals, in £ million at 1948 prices. These figures have been derived by applying movements in the index of output for agriculture, forestry and fishing to the 1948 gross output level. This is the only industry for which it has been possible to provide data at 1948 prices.
	
		Agriculture, forestry and fishing
		
			 Year £ million (1948 prices) 
			 1948 642 
			 1958 794 
			 1968 1,047 
			 1978 1,296 
			 1988 1,678 
			 1998 1,821 
			 1999 1,873 
		
	
	Gross output figures for all industries except the agriculture industry have been obtained by applying indices of output of the production industries to 1995 gross output base figures. These figures are shown in the attached tables.
	
		Gross output figures for the coal industry, at ten-yearly intervals, in £ million at 1995 prices.
		
			 Year coal--£ million (1995 prices) 
			 1948 17,493 
			 1958 17,792 
			 1968 12,525 
			 1978 7,496 
			 1988 5,769 
			 1998 1,939 
			 1999 1,743 
		
	
	Without incurring significant expense it is not possible to obtain data prior to 1978 in respect of the shipbuilding, textiles and motor vehicle manufacture industries. The same is true for the iron and steel industry before 1983. Annual figures are shown below.
	
		Gross output figures for Textiles, Iron and Steel, Motor Vehicles and Shipbuilding.
		
			 Year Textiles Iron and Steel Motor Vehicles Shipbuilding 
			  Figures are in £ million at 1995 prices 
			 1978 13,339  25,653 4,439 
			 1979 12,968  23,688 4,157 
			 1980 10,884  20,674 3,900 
			 1981 9,954  16,585 4,061 
			 1982 9,714  15,970 4,333 
			 1983 10,933 5,778 16,767 3,908 
			 1984 11,275 5,107 16,046 3,632 
			 1985 11,779 6,154 16,928 3,193 
			 1986 11,581 6,465 16,003 3,048 
			 1987 12,200 7,639 17,401 2,776 
			 1988 12,296 8,639 20,066 3,452 
			 1989 11,985 8,655 21,157 3,388 
			 1990 11,737 8,176 19,479 2,934 
			 1991 10,603 7,648 17,350 2,852 
			 1992 10,587 7,400 17,703 2,348 
			 1993 10,507 7,698 17,760 2,196 
			 1994 10,595 8,041 19,112 2,245 
			 1995 10,170 8,212 20,313 1,986 
			 1996 9,965 8,301 21,454 2,470 
			 1997 10,049 8,620 21,401 2,245 
			 1998 9,355 7,939 22,385 2,371 
			 1999 9,032 7,609 22,684 2,619

Employment Changes 1948-98, by Industry

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 March (WA 60), whether they will extend the table supplied by publishing for the industries specified below (a) the total job figures and (b) an index based on 1948 = 100 showing the changes that have occurred in these industries from 1948 to 1998 in 10-year steps: coal mining; ports and docks; railways; steel production; shipbuilding; agriculture; motor vehicle manufacture; and textiles. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to Lord Marlesford from the Economics Statistics Director of the Office for National Statistics, Mr John Kidgell, dated 19 April 2000.
	The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on employment changes by industry in the United Kingdom since 1948. I am replying in the Director's absence.
	The data requested appears in the attached table. The figures for 1948 to 1968 are based on information from British Labour Statistics Historical Abstract 1886-1968. For the years 1978 to 1998, figures are based on employment surveys in the nearest available year.
	You should be aware that the figures given in the reply are based on industry classifications that have changed several times since 1948, and therefore some estimates may not be strictly comparable over time.
	
		Employee Jobs in United Kingdom -- (Thousands)
		
			  1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 
			 Coal mining 794 782 482 295 118 16 
			 Ports and docks 156 156 136 66 36 25 
			 Railways 572 495 293 250 155 89 
			 Steel production 268 306 329 271 99 48 
			 Shipbuilding 245 215 156 147 58 20 
			 Agriculture 784 577 385 372 316 312 
			 Motor vehicle manufacture 280 316 475 474 108 101 
			 Textile manufacture 993 931 737 488 228 180 
			  
			 Column Totals 4,092 3,778 2,993 2,363 1,118 791 
		
	
	
		Index (1948 = 100)
		
			  1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 
			 Coal Mining 100 98 61 37 15 2 
			 Ports and docks 100 100 87 42 23 16 
			 Railways 100 87 51 44 27 16 
			 Steel production 100 114 123 101 37 18 
			 Shipbuilding 100 88 64 60 24 8 
			 Motor vehicle manufacture 100 113 169 169 39 36 
			 Textile manufacture 100 94 74 49 23 18 
			 Index of column totals 100 92 73 58 27 19 
		
	
	Notes:
	(1) The figures are arranged according to the five versions of the Standard Industrial Classification in use from 1948 to date. For this reason the figures are broadly comparable but there may be some fine definitional differences in certain industries.
	(2) The 1988 figures are interpolations based on the 1987 and 1989 Censuses of Employment. There was no Census of Employment in 1988.

A.80 Motorway

Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is intended to upgrade the A.80 motorway between Stepps and Haggs; and, if so, when the work is likely to be undertaken.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: Decisions on road and transport projects and priorities within Scotland are devolved so this is now a matter for the Scottish executive.